Fans United, Goldstone Ground, Hove, February 8th 1997 was a very special day in the life of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. The crisis at the Club had been going on for around 18 months. The supporters had been betrayed by the board of Directors who had sold The Goldstone Ground without having a new stadium available for the Albion. At that time the supporters believed the Club would go out of business if Bill Archer, Greg Stanley & David Bellotti remained in control. They had to go.

Fans United was born on the Internet with the original idea coming from a Plymouth Argyle supporter. The idea was that all football supporters should come along to one of Brighton’s games wearing their own club colours. It wasn’t just about supporting Brighton in their hour of need it was about sending a message to the ‘money men’ that football belongs to the fans. The day was to be a show of solidarity against greed and corruption in football.

February the 8th was chosen because there was a restricted programme in the top two divisions due to World Cup qualifiers taking place the following week.

The day itself was one that you’ll never forget if you were lucky enough to be there. I should probably write more about it at a later date, but for those who weren’t there here are a few photographs to give a small flavour of the day.

I came into possession of these photographs because at the time I was involved with a Brighton and Hove Albion fanzine and supporters sent the photographs along so they could be published as a record of the day. I can’t remember who sent the photo’s, but a big thank you to everyone who did and to everyone who supported us at that time.

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About Jackie Dinnis

Welcome to my blog where I am enjoying meeting my family - past and present - one at a time. Join me as I learn who my ancestors were, where they lived, what their occupations were and what everyday life was like for them.

It was indeed where we first ‘met’ ! Or rather, it was via Seaside Saga, when I wrote in about my impressions of Fans United as an OUFC fan who was there 😀 Still have all my fanzine copies back home in Oxford 🙂 And I’ve been looking at those photos again….are we sure they weren’t *really* taken in 1977?! haha!